A trustee with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is in critical condition after a fire at her home near High Park.

Firefighters found Irene Atkinson suffering from smoke inhalation on the first floor of her home on High Park Boulevard, near Parkside Drive, around 7 p.m. Saturday.

The fire had started in the kitchen and spread to a back stairwell.

“Last evening … Irene Atkinson was taken to hospital following a fire at her home,” TDSB director Donna Quan and vice-chair Shaun Chen said in a statement.

“On behalf of all trustees, staff and students at the TDSB, our thoughts are with Irene and her family at this difficult time.”

The thoughts of all TDSB Trustees, staff and students are with Trustee Irene Atkinson and her family.

— Toronto DSB (@tdsb) March 17, 2013

Several members of city council, including Mayor Rob Ford, took to Twitter to extend their well wishes to Atkinson.

Our thoughts are with Trustee Irene Atkinson. We wish her a speedy recovery #GetWellIrene

— Mayor Rob Ford (@TOMayorFord) March 17, 2013

My thoughts are with Trustee Irene Atkinson and her family after a devastating fire at Irene’s home. #fb

— Peggy Nash (@PeggyNashNDP) March 17, 2013

My thoughts are with my friend & former colleague at the TDSB, Trustee Irene Atkinson and her family. She is a champion for our city’s kids.

— Josh Matlow (@JoshMatlow) March 17, 2013

Our thoughts and prayers are with Trustee Irene Atkinson who is in critical condition in hospital follow a fire… fb.me/21azjakN6

— Sarah Doucette (@DoucetteWard13) March 17, 2013

A second person was rescued from the third-floor balcony and treated by paramedics at the scene.